God is Lord over all. He is not limited by geography. God is not a national God. He is not an American. In that dreadful Civil War, God was not a “Yankee” nor was he a “Confederate.” Today, still, He is neither British, German nor Russian.

The common man, the average soldier often does not know the true reasons why he is in battle. As the machine gun trigger is pressed against that unknown young man across the way, what soldier can say with confidence, “God is on MY side and against him?” Perhaps that “enemy” youth about to die is a new husband or father. He has no personal malice or grievance, only that he likewise has been pressed into “duty” and been informed by his superiors of his “enemies.”

Who knows but that only weeks earlier this same young man may have obeyed Jesus Christ in baptism, resolving to dedicate himself to Christian service. But here he is, having been taught by his brothers that warring is proper for Christians, now, unknowingly about to die at the hands of a man against whom he has done no injustice, and who himself may be a member of the Lord’s church. As brothers in Christ, these men, here set to kill each the other, in better times may have thrilled to blend their voices in song- “Blest be the tie that binds”, and then gone out arm in arm to tell the world about Jesus.

In consideration that there are, in fact, Christians in every nation, when war pits Christians of one against Christians of the other, it is inconceivable that brother may slay brother and be guiltless before the Almighty.

But on the other hand, there is more chance that the young man about to die does not know Jesus Christ. He is likely a sinner, lost and without God. When the bullet finds its mark, what has the “Christian” soldier done but sealed for all eternity the destiny of that lost soul. Can we not hear the earnest pleading of the apostle, “destroy not him.. .for whom Christ died” (Rom. 14:15). Do the words of Jesus mean nothing?…”For the son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Lk.9:56). War is sinful!!